Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine’s Ports Continue
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has damaged 321 port infrastructure facilities and 20 foreign merchant vessels since July 2023. This was reported by Zelensky at the International Conference on Food Security in Kyiv.
The Black Sea route is a major trade route for Ukraine, with the country exporting about 6 million tons of grain per month. Russia’s attacks on ships traveling along this route pose a significant risk to maritime transport. Mines have also been drifting along the trade route since the start of the all-out war, adding to the risks.
A new export route was set up in the Black Sea after Russia unilaterally terminated the Black Sea grain deal last year. This route was initially intended as a humanitarian corridor for ships stranded during the full-scale invasion. However, it has since become a major trade route.
Russia’s attacks on civilian vessels have had devastating consequences. Last month, Russian forces struck a foreign civilian ship in Odesa, killing a 60-year-old Ukrainian port employee and injuring five foreign nationals. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Russia is trying to weaken Ukraine’s economy and put millions of people around the world at risk of hunger.
Ukraine plays an important role in global food security, with its food exports providing for 400 million people in 100 countries worldwide. Zelensky emphasized that food prices in Africa directly depend on whether farmers and agricultural companies in Ukraine can operate normally.
Zelensky also highlighted Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen ties with African nations amid Russia’s continued influence in the region. He announced that seven of the ten embassies that Ukraine is opening in African countries have already been opened, with three more set to open soon.
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